Most days I feel like I’ve been skulking around the online romance community forever. But Sybil asked me to properly introduce myself, and who am I to deny Sybil? So here it is – Super Librarian 101.
I discovered the joys of reading through mystery novels, which to this day are my first love. I had a brief, torrid affair with romance when I was in high school, but it was merely a fling. Once I was off to college there was just no hope for me. Besides the fact that reading anything for pleasure was now a distant memory, academia warped my fragile little mind. Yeah, I was one of those types that thought romance novels were poorly written tripe for bored housewives who enjoyed fantasizing about Fabio because their husbands couldn’t be bothered to find their G-Spot. It wasn’t until I took my first professional library job that I realized that my opinion of the romance genre might be slightly “off.” So I started reading, and quickly became addicted. I reviewed for The Romance Reader from 1999-2007, and started my own blog, The Misadventures of Super Librarian, in 2003.
I have been around a while, but that doesn’t mean everybody out there “knows” me. Plus, rehashing my particular reading foibles, likes and dislikes is a good thing, and will hopefully help all of you to determine if my reviews are worth your time.
Grading:
I subscribe to the school of thought that most books fall under the B/C umbrella. I’ve had to explain it to more than one person over the years that when I 
slap a B grade on a book that means I liked it. No really. I liked it. I may have liked it a lot. It just didn’t have that “A-Ha!” moment that I require from an A read. Likewise, a book really has to drive me to drink large quantities of vodka for me to give it a D/F.
What I Look For:
I’m the type of reader who puts a lot of focus on the characters. If I like the characters, I tend to like the book. If the characters drive me insane? No amount of fantastic writing, imaginative plotting or beautiful prose is saving the book for me. Also, I’m a pretty straight-ahead reader. If you want a reviewer to dissect the book, discuss symbolism, and research the historical accuracy? I am so not your girl. I’m more a see book, read book, hopefully like book kind of girl.
Things I Hate:
Love triangles, soul mates, financially strapped single mothers who don’t use birth control and get pregnant, 95% of secret baby plots, oops we had sex one time and now I’m pregnant, virgin widows, idiot virgin heroines (you’re going to put what where?!), books that vilify the sexually experienced woman, hopelessly infertile heroines who magically become pregnant thanks to the hero’s super sperm, twins, flowery writing (I don’t need 25 pages describing a rain storm, I just don’t), paranormal/erotica hybrids.
Things I Like:
Friends to lovers, marriage of convenience, emotionally crippled characters, scarred characters, mail order bride, suspense (anything from tame to gory), plain jane heroines, spinster heroines, cowboys, Alpha heroes who end up groveling, Beta heroes, older heroine/younger hero stories, westerns, the Victorian era, romantic suspense, category romance, straight-up erotica.
And those are just the highlights. Probably more than any of you ever wanted to know, but don’t blame me. Sybil made me do it.
That Sybil! She’s a taskmistress!
That’s me too! When I am done reading a book, I decide if I liked it or not based on how I feel when I shut the book. I don’t pay attention to the other stuff. It has to be reaaaaaalllllly bad for me to notice.
huh. I like 98% of what you listed in the “thinks I like” paragraph. Esp. alpha heroes that grovel! LOL
I think your reviews will be very, very helpful to me! :o)
My favorite part of the post! I agree 😉
I HAatttttttteeeessssssssss love triangles.
🙂 I feel like I’ve seen this before – and on this site. Guess I’m going crazy.
might be my most favorite thing eva. I don’t hate love triangles though. (I grew up on classic Asian dramas!) I like C books too – just not a lot. I like B books. I love A books. D or F for me, means I thought about poking my eyes out while reading it. Or I ran away from the book while reading it. But I think your vodka plan might be the way to go 😉
Aha, so there is some merit in a D/F grade! Vodka!
Hmm, may I use your list of things you like? 😉 Not so sure about “older heroine/younger hero”, but the rest I love. I’d be so happy if someone could post a good and very long list of “friends to lovers”-stories. 🙂
Lynne: There’s always room for vodka!
Kris: The older heroine/younger hero plot device can be fantastic, if it’s done right. That’s the trick.
Sybil: I so despise love triangles. Not quite as much as soul mates (which I loathe with every fiber of my being) – but they’re a close second.
Lime: Nope, this is definitely the first time this has been on the site 🙂
Tracy: I’m not a huge fan of Alphas, but hot damn, I love it when they have to grovel! LOL
Gwen: I know, she is keeling me!
Wendy: I’m willing to try. Where should I start with the older heroine/younger hero plot? Wait, wasn’t there a Karen Robards? She was his former teacher? That was a wonderful and very sexy book.
I’m with you Wendy, on the most book are B/C.
Kris: I think the book you’re thinking of is Hard Lovin’ Man by Lorraine Heath – which is, naturally, still in my TBR somewhere.
One I read recently and liked (didn’t love, but did like) was The Stranger I Married by Sylvia Day. Other than that? Damn, I’m drawing a blank. It’s too early in the morning here and my brain is mushy.
Devon: It’s been a weird year for me so far. A lot more As than usual – but my reading seems to have slowed to a crawl. Odd….